Wishful Thinking Read online

  Rand shrugged. “I only know the rules as they’ve been given to me. I have a responsibility to whoever releases me from the nether world, and that person is the one mortal beings like me are bound to for the rest of time. Once my help has been rendered, I have no choice but to exchange places with that mortal or die. My time is expired either way. It is how this works.”

  "You said you and I belonged together."

  "We do, and this is what I feel, yet I am bound by the rules of the nether world. I did not ask to be cursed."

  "Neither did I. In fact, I've never heard of such a thing before. It doesn't seem fair to be trapped in it now."

  "I agree, yet it doesn't lessen the fact."

  She shook her head and retreated further until her backside hit the door. “I’m sorry, but I have to refuse.” The resignation in his eyes buried her with guilt. “I can’t make such an enormous decision without thinking it over.”

  “I understand.” He waved a hand toward the door. “Go. I will grant you a two week pardon. At the end of the term, I will visit again to exchange places.”

  “Since the tasks have been completed, are you able to leave this room?” She tried the door handle. A thrill raced down her spine when it opened at her touch. He had told the truth earlier, at least. She'd never been locked into the room. Why hadn't she believed before? Realization slammed into her. Because she trusted Rand.

  “Yes, but I cannot be far away from my home. Place the creamer pot in a safe place. Until the next fortnight, I bid you goodbye.” He snapped his fingers and vanished.

  Jovie didn’t wait around to see what happened next. She darted to the catering cart, grabbed the creamer pot and ran from the room, never looking back as her heart broke all over again.

  * * * *

  Two weeks later, Jovie sat behind her massive new desk in an office on the executive floor. Life had changed exponentially for her since she walked out of that conference room all those days ago. Dan had taken ownership of the gold bars. He and Clinton bought a golf course in Florida, leaving Jovie with the reins of Romantic Escapes for awhile. She didn’t mind, especially since she could run the company as she saw fit and the clients loved the new leadership. With the three lists of new clients and new parties, she'd gone a long way into building the company into a viable, productive business.

  She'd decorated her office in soft shades of pink and gold, complete with the attached bathroom and sitting area, amazed at how fast things happened when there was actual money to throw around instead of empty promises. She now had a company car, an expense account and more responsibility than she could ever ask for. Life was indeed good—magical.

  Everything had been accomplished with speed and very little issues, almost as if Rand still helped smooth her way from the confines of the creamer pot.

  Not a day went by where she didn’t think of him. In one night, he’d become the single most important person in her life and in the same night, he’d fallen to the most hated being of her existence. That didn’t stop her from wishing he’d come back and say he’d made a mistake, that the universe was testing them both. She wanted him to return, sweep her into his strong arms and say he’d figured out a way they could be together permanently, beat the odds as weird as they sounded.

  Rand had been put into her life for a reason and she’d like to hope it was for more than a casual lay on the conference room floor. Surely a few lessons to bolster her self-confidence wasn’t the end of their time together.

  Tapping the end of her pen against her bottom lip, she smiled at her day planner. The sex had been the greatest intimacy she’d ever experienced. Even now, the mere thought of Rand’s hands on her body caused her panties to dampen from arousal. God, I miss him. Sometimes she’d catch herself turning to ask him a question or share an exciting tidbit with him only to remember he wasn’t there and never would be. In spite of the storybook meaning, she had no choice but to believe in it.

  The situation is impossible. The sacrifice is too steep. Me for him or vice versa.

  “You need to think differently, my dove. Impossibility often means an opportunity to grow.”

  Jovie jerked her head up at the sound of his voice. The rich timbre sent shivers over her body that mimicked the strongest orgasm. She dropped her pen and stared. A black t-shirt molded to his chest and a pair of faded jeans hugged his ass and thighs like a second skin, letting her mind dwell on remembered pleasures. “Rand.” Fear and excitement warred for dominance in her chest. What would he do? What would she?

  “Watching you every day but not touching or talking has been torture.” He glanced about her office. His gaze settled on the creamer pot which rested on a bookshelf near her desk. “You’ve wasted no time getting acclimated to your new life.”

  “It’s proved to be everything I wanted from a career.” His presence filled the office, encroached into her personal space like he’d always been there and imparted her with a feeling of happiness and contentment. “I’ll give you my brand new condo, my car, anything, if you’ll reconsider this insane request.”

  “Oh, Jovie. If only it were that simple.” He came around her desk to perch on the corner of that piece of furniture. “The powers-that-be are very strict. Your life or mine. No exceptions. I have already spent enough time in the nether world. I’d like to live again with flesh and blood.”

  “So would I.” She swallowed and crossed her legs when he brushed against her. “My life has only started. Would you really be so cruel as to take that away?” His beach-like scent filled her nose until she couldn’t breathe from wanting him so badly.

  “You are right, of course.” Sadness tinged his grin. “I can deny you nothing. I never could.”

  “Except this one little thing.” She swallowed against the tears clogging her throat. “Rand, there must be another way.” Giving into the urge, she laid a hand on his thigh. He flinched. An involuntary sigh escaped when he lifted the hand to his lips.

  “I’m powerless to object, so here is your last chance for freedom.” His words warmed her skin. “You have three nights to find out what my full name is. If, after that time, you are unable to give me the correct name, you have no choice but to take my place in the creamer pot. Do you understand?”

  Jovie nodded. After all, how hard would it be to determine his name when he’d already told her to call him Rand? “I understand. No more tricks?”

  "This is correct."

  "If I fail and end up in that pot, what's to say someone else couldn't set me free?" There had to be a loophole.

  He shook his head. "I am sorry. You unlocked my seal. It would follow that I would be your key as well."

  "I see. And why would you set me free if it meant you return to that prison."

  "Sadly, this is so."

  She ignored the doubts that crept up to steal the joy of her reprieve. “Will you stay visible to me each night?”

  “If you wish it.”

  “I do.” And I wish so much more. If only things were different.

  He took one of her fingers into his mouth and stroked it with his tongue. “There are millions of names in this world, my princess. You’ll be hoarse by the time you say them all to me, but I wouldn’t want to spend my time any other way.”

  Blinking away her tears, she nodded again. “Until tonight.”

  Chapter Nine

  Taking a swig from her third bottle of water that night, Jovie folded her arms on her desktop and dropped her head on them. This was going to take forever. She’d pulled up every baby name site on the Internet and scrolled through thousands of names from countries all over the world then abandoned them for different surnames used globally. Still nothing remotely close—according to Rand himself.

  She lifted her head and looked at the object of her frustration. It was unfair he appeared so calm and cool, sitting on the settee near the floor-to-ceiling windows as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  Bastard.

  “None of the last names I’ve come up with ar
e correct?” She propped her elbows on the desk and buried her head in her hands. A headache loomed across her forehead from the constant stress. Midnight was two hours off and she hadn’t accomplished much except guessing his first name—Randal. Obviously, that wasn't much of a stretch. She'd simply went down the alphabet again until she'd hit his middle initial—L. Again, that bit was too easy since his first name was Randall with one L. It made sense, especially in magical being logic, that his middle initial was also an L.

  “I’m afraid not, but I admire your effort. The possibility of being free is a great motivator.” Bitterness choked his voice. If he noticed, he didn’t show it.

  “How do I know what you say is the truth? What if I’ve already said your last name but you’re lying about it?”

  “Once you utter my correct moniker, I will immediately dissolve into a shower of sparks. Magical beings of the nether world closely guard their names and when one is said, we cease to exist.” He shrugged as if he’d gone over the information too many times to count. “There is no more mystery which translates to the loss of magic. Death is the next step. We are born to it.”

  The knife of guilt twisted deeper into her gut. How could she consign him to his fate? And why should she have to take the fall and give up her life because he'd come out of his prison on his own? She glanced across the room at him, and her heart lurched. She sighed. At no time during their evening together did he make a move to kiss her.

  Had he gotten what he wanted and now he only needed her to comply with the rest? Deep down, she didn’t think he was capable of such avarice or deception. Not him, the man who so patiently and lovingly paid her attention and built her confidence. Believed in her, taught her to believe in herself so she could succeed.

  Life shouldn’t be this hard.

  “Rand, if you were to live life again in the mortal world, what would you do?” She stood and came around her desk. Once she crossed the carpet, she stepped out of her heels and drifted to a stop before him. “I mean, you’ve spent years in the nether world. How do you plan to adjust?” Urgency compelled her to touch him. She held back, knowing once she did, there'd be no controlling her reaction.

  “Why do you concern yourself with me, my dove? We are now rivals and want the same goal. In order for one of us to survive, the other will not.”

  “Don’t remind me. It’s all I think about.” A twinge of sadness played through her stomach. “I’m curious, though.” Jovie stared down at him with a frown. “You must hate me. I’m the only roadblock to your goal. It’s probably annoying after all this time.”

  “If that were true, then the same could be said of you, and you do not project feelings of animosity.” Rand cocked his head to one side, giving her a smile that didn’t light his eyes. “I have learned not to put stock into circumstances beyond my control.” He caught one of her hands in his, tugging her easily into his lap. “Fate is my map and destiny my guide. I go where they lead. It’s who I meet on the journey that makes it worthwhile.”

  “Then you’re glad I was the one who released you?” Her attempt to leave his lap was thwarted when he tightened his arms around her. “It could have been Clinton or anyone else who reached for the tea service.”

  “No. One human for each nether world being. That is the legend.” He threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping her head. “Without you, I still would be imprisoned. Without you, I will never be free.” His green eyes bore into hers. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I'm as trapped in the rules as you. The only difference is I knew all along whereas you are just finding out now.”

  He knew yet he still did those tasks for her, pleasured her, built her confidence even knowing there was a possibility he'd be sent back. “Maybe there’s a loophole.” She toyed with the neckline of his t-shirt then brushed her fingers along his jaw. The prickle of stubble against her skin sent shivers of desire through her belly. “There’s always a way out. Maybe if we talk to an attorney?” As the thought took life, she knew it would be hopeless. Every lawyer in the state would laugh at her far-fetched story, not to mention no one except her could see Rand.

  “Not this time. Rules governing the nether world are very strict and not bound to mortal laws. Even now, I’m on probation for giving you extra days.” He pressed his lips to the sensitive spot below her right ear. “It’s well worth the hassle to spend a few more seconds in your arms.”

  “Yes, but is it worth a last name?”

  “Only you can decide that.”

  Jovie squirmed, trying to alleviate the ache between her legs. As much as she’d love to have another bout of hot sex with the magical man, he’d still tricked her and she wasn’t sure he still wasn’t using her for his own gain. Of course he was! Nothing like seducing an insecure woman in order to have her agree to his insane plan. “Let me up, Rand. I don’t want any more of your flattery. It always ends with me being half-naked.”

  “And satisfied. Would you like me to pleasure you with my fingers?” He nibbled her ear lobe then pressed his lips close to her ear and said, “Slide them through your warm pussy as I gather your sweet honey?”

  “Oh, God.” Need spiraled down her spine at his low-pitched, coarse words. She slipped a hand around his neck. “That can’t happen again. I’m angry with you, remember?” Her resolve wobbled as he pulled gently on her hair, tipping her head back. “Aren’t we now enemies?” She licked her lips in anticipation of the kiss she knew was imminent. “Only one of us can be here in this world.” How come Disney heroines never had these issues?

  “We are, but we are also fated to be together for this portion of the future.” His breath warmed the column of her throat. “Why do you wish to spend that time in the pointless pursuit of a surname you’ll never guess? No one has accomplished this feat in over a hundred years.”

  “I have to try. You would do the same.” A breezy sigh escaped when he drew his tongue over the hollow between her collar bones. “It’s ridiculous to think I’ll calmly give up my life for you, no matter how you make me feel.” Need heated her body and she shifted on his lap. “Why did you have to appear to me at all? You brought me to life again only so I might lose it? That's cruel.”

  Being near him and not having him was pure torture.

  His perfect mouth pulled down with a frown. “You needed me.” He removed his hands from her hair and placed one on either side of her ribcage. “You still do. For the remainder of our time together, I will strive to grant your every wish. I am yours.”

  “You’re wrong. I don’t need you anymore.” Sadness darkened the haze of lust, but she couldn’t go through with the lie. Every cell in her body cried out for his attention. Despite her best intentions, she craved him.

  Never had anyone affected her as this strange, not-quite-human did with his words and sweet caresses. “I have everything I ever wanted now.” The heat from his hands pressed against her sides like twin furnaces. “I no longer need you.” She hoped repeating the statement would make more of an impact—on her, on him.

  “I’m sorry to hear that because now this will be inappropriate.” He lowered his mouth, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.

  It was fleeting and feather-weighted. When it was over, goosebumps covered her skin and her longing turned into a raging inferno of desire. She swallowed and looked into his face, hoping for calm but sinking fast into a cocoon of want. “I guess spending two weeks apart has been a good thing. I felt nothing—”

  His next kiss muffled her lame protest. Still on the sweet side, he nibbled at the corners of her mouth, sucked on her bottom lip and ran the tip of his tongue along its curve. Jovie whimpered. She drew his head closer in an attempt to deepen the embrace. He pulled away, trailing his lips under her jaw and along her neck to tease the fluttering pulse.

  All thoughts of her problem tumbled to the back of her mind under the force of his tender onslaught. Jolts of excitement powered through her bloodstream as he brushed the pads of this thumbs over her hardened nipples. “Oh, Rand, mmm, ye
s there.” The tingling bliss tripped all the way down to her toes.

  “I told you the truth before, sweetness. Your body was created for pleasure; your curves demand to be stroked.” Another sweep of his thumbs caused her to gasp for breath, writhing on his lap. “Let me give you that and more tonight.”

  She nodded dumbly, not thinking beyond having his delicious body reacquainted with hers. It was only when he laid her back against the plush velvet of the settee that a glimmer of common sense broke through the haze. “No.” Pushing against his chest, his next kiss temporarily knocked her off course with its sizzling heat.

  “I want you, my peach. We are good for each other. We belong together.” Rand reached for the waistband of her slacks. “Give up this pursuit of my last name and let me cover your body with kisses.”

  “No!” With strength she didn’t know she possessed, Jovie shoved his shoulders and scrambled from beneath him. “Stop it, all right? Seducing me is not going to work.” Warm anger returned and swept aside the lust. “I will find your last name and I will remain here in this world. Exactly where I was meant to be.” Without you.

  “Jovie, I—”

  “Get out.” She crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her pebbled nipples from his view. “This meeting is over. I don’t want to see you again before tomorrow.”

  Rand pushed the fingers of one hand through his hair and his shoulders drooped, a sad imitation of his once-proud stature. “As you wish.” With a snap of those same fingers, he disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

  Now what? Nothing had been gained and she was no closer to finding a solution. She sank onto the settee and gave in to tears. How could she send him to a death he didn’t deserve any more than she did?

  How could she continue to love Randal L. whatever the hell his last name was?